DIARY OF THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 52, 29 August 1914, Page 4

DIARY OF THE WAR

LEADING EVENTS BRIEFLY STATED

Although events leading up to the present European conflict could be traced back for years, one of the immediate and comparatively minor causes was the assassination at Serajevo on 28th June last of the ArcMuke Franz Ferdinand, heir-presumptive to the Austrian throne, and his wife, who were shot by a Servian student. Before the actual assassination another man had also made a similar* attempt with a bomb. Both men belonged to the Serb orthodox faith, and played leading parts in the anti-Austrian agitation. Other events then followed as under : — \ June 30. — Anti-Servian demonstration in Bosnia. July I.— Renewed anti-Servian riots. Bombs intended for the destruction of the Archduke discovered in several places. July 3. — Bombs and firearms reported to have been supplied from Belgrade by a rich merchant, and by a Sel'- • vian military official, secretary of the Pan-Servian Union. jj u ly s.— Servia warned and the Servian Government advised to be careful in fulfilling all the obligations arising out of the Archduke's murder, whch, it was claimed) was undoubtedly promoted in Belgrade. July 8. — Ministerial Council (Vienna) discussed 'measures to be taken to uproot Servian agitation in Bosnia. Austrian troops reported to_ be concentrating on Servian frontier. July 9. — Press irritated at continued attacks on the Monarchy by Servian newspapers^ and vigorous action urged. July 10. — Berlin newspapers state that if the responsibility of the Serajevo crime was not brought home to Servia, every step taken in Austria would receive the moral support of Germany. Vehement^ attack by Vienna press upon Servia. July 13. — A great accession to Germany's striking force intimated by the addition of a third squadron, three squadrons thus being in full commission at Wilhelmshaven . and Kiel. _ • July 14. — Anti-Austrian movement in Servia increasing. July 21. — Austria demands the removal of a group of officers in the Servian Army. July 24. — In connection with the Servian j Note drafted by Austria, Germany will hold x aloof unless another Power j intervenes. Then Germany will fulfil her duty towards her ally. A Russian attack on Austria wbuld mean war with Germany. July 25 Austria's ultimatum to Servia. Its strong terms and extreme, demands much criticised. Unless ultimatum is withdrawn Austria must deal with Russia, the latter declaring that it is directed against her. French statesmen declare that should Servia be forced into war she j would not appeal in vain for the support of those Powers which wished to maintain the balance of power at all costs. Austria, disclaims any intention of territorial acquisition in Servia. Gravity of the situation realised in England. German fleet to concentrate. Partial mobilisation by Austria. The ulti> matum -by Austria regarded as a direct challenge to- Russia. Russiaready for action. July 26. — Austria reported to have declared war- Setvia accepts several of Austria's demands, but protests against the proposal for the estab- . lishment of an Austro-Hungarian police in Servia. Italy informs Austria that she will adopt a friendly attitude in accordance with the terms of the Alliance. Germany sympathises with Austria. Russia declares mobilisation by Austria on the frontier will mean that Servia will not stand alone. Great Britain takes part of mediator. Movements of Außtrian troops commence. Precautions by British Admiralty. Mobilisation ordei'ed in Servia. Russian press declares that if Servia it attacked it means war with Russia, in which France will automatically join, and possibly England also. July 27. — Situation a little more hopeful. Conference of Powers concerned sug- , gested by Great Britain. France and Russia agree. July 28. — Austria declares war, and hostilities practically commence. Britain's conference proposal rejected by Germany. German mobilisation threatened. (Stated subsequently that it actually commenced on 25th July.) Concentration of French troops. Belgrade dominated by ' 'Austrian guns. Initial Servian sue cess. Russia is prepared to take the field immediately Austria crosses the Servian border. July 29. — Belgrade occupied after a heavy bombardment. Preparations by Russia. Seven hundred thousand men mobilised. Germany active. Precautions in France. General European war threatened. "Waiting lor war" the condition of Germany. Small skirmishes in Servia. Japan will participate as Great Britain's ally if necessary. July 31. — Russia blows up a bridge in Austrian territory. Belgium mobilising. Precautionary measures by French and Germans on the border. Germans cut the railways on the frontier. Engagement between Austrians and Servians. Preparations in Great Britain. Austria refuses to inform Russia how Servia will fare as a defeated belligerent. August I—Germany1 — Germany declares war against Russia. August 2. — German acts of aggression, and , invasion of Belgium. Germans repulsed at Liege. Russian advances checked. England's army and fleet ready. August 3. — Britain will protect the French coast if it is bombarded by the German fleet. Fighting on the Servian fi'oijUei 1 . S>v«;defi mobilising. Austria temporarily' ceases hostilities in Servia in view of a possible Russian attack. Russian warships forced to shelter in the Baltic Sea. August 4 — Germany sends ultimatum to Belgium demanding use of Belgian territory for military. Belgium refuses permission, and appeals to Great Britain to safeguard Belgian integrity. Overtures by Germany as to abstaining from a naval attack on the French coast, on condition that Great Britain remained neutral. i'"iigiigement between German and RiMrf'.an ships of war. One of the latter cast ashore. Oennun raids on France. Austrhuis repulaed by Servians. Belgium ready to resist Germany's invasion. Severe Austrian rejjulsQ liy Servians. Italy remains TieuhiiL notwithstanding Germany's ci'U. Sweden neutral. Germany usked by Great Britain for a satisfactory reply regarding Belgian neiitrclily. No reply forthcoming. Germans enter France. At 11 p.m. (Jii.iit Urituin is in a state of war against, Gtirnany. General enthusi■irfin in JJntisli Dominions. German tf.tC leaves Kiel. Atijji'it 6.— Announcement made Ihroughotit tin; Empire that Oieat Biituin is at war vvitli (Jerman.v. Germans !i:wi(io ( l>sl^iuiii at Vervieis Gei In<u.i piuinu-e to it'fjifct Holland's i'"t(f.taii'y. Bri'ifli Atriiv »n<l Navy muLuiisa-tioji piacticaily completed.

German troops occupy Kalasz, in Russian Poland. August 6. — Reported capture by French of German Drea-dnought-cruiser Goeben and cruiser Breslau ; also sinking of German gunboat Panther. Germans violate neutrality of Switzerland by crossing, her borders. Swiss Army mobilised. Belgians blow up tunnels and bridges to prevent Germans' advance. Belgian Army keeping Germans in check ; heavy fighting reported. Austria continues to bombard Belgrade. United States declares its neutrality. Montenegrins take the field. Great rush of volunteers throughout the British colonies to serve in Expeditionary Forces. August 7. — Holland distrusts Germany, and completes mobilisation. Steamer Xonigin Luise torpedoed by British scout-cruiser while mine-laying near the Thames. Germans fall back fiom Russo-German 'frontier, burning villages as they go. Lord Kitchener appointed Gommander-in-Chief of the British Army administration ; Sir lan Hamilton to the command of the Home Army. A Russian and a German cruiser fight off Wei-hai-wei. China ; both sunk. American President Wilson offers to act as a. mediator. Japan Foreign Office reiterates it will take the necessary measures to discharge her obligations to Britain. French and German troops have sharp engagement at Nancy. Announcement in New Zealand Parliament that Expeditionary Force of from 7000 to 8000 men w2l be prepared forthwith. August 8. — Germans advance in force on Liege and besiege it, suffering heavy losses from counter attacks. Austria, declares war on Russia, and Italy announces her neutrality. Sir John French appointed to head British Expeditionary Force. British scout Amphion sunk by a mine in the Thames. A White Paper issued discloses Sir Edward Grey's correspondence with the Powers, and leads to view that England's conscience is clear. Germany, admitting 25,000 casualties, i asks Belgium for a 24 hours' armistice. August 10. — Germany's appeals to Italy are rejected, although Germany holds out the threat of war. North Sea clecla.red safe for British shipping by day. Belgium refuses the armistice, and very heavy fighting occurs at Liege, terrific slaughter of the besiegers being reported. News of big North Sea engagement officially denied. Austria states that there is no state of war between Austria and Britain. • August II. — Liege continues to be the main storm centre. The Germans enter and occupy the town, bbt the forts stand in spite of mass attacks by the besiegers. The French cross into Alsace after fierce fighting, seizing Altkirch and Mulhausen. The Austi'ians fail so far to invade Servia, and Montenegro declares war on Austria. South Togoland (German Gold Coast) seized by British and French troops, Germans offering no resistance. August 12. — British troops are reported to have reached Belgium. The Germans continuously bombard Liege, and silence one fort ; and they concentrate also on Namur. Plans found on* captured Uhlans show that Germany calculated on reaching Brussels on 3rd August. In Alsace, the French are driven out of Mulhausen to higher ground, and several engagements along the frontier are reported. There are numerous stories of outrages by Germans in France and Poland. France declares war -on Austria. August 13.-^-The besieged fortifications hold out, but a big engagement is reported to have taken place afc Tirleinnt. Great bodies of Germans are stated to be marching into Belgium, but generally movements are not reported. The Germans are supposed to be concentrated at Thionville and Liege, but none are believed td be in France. Kitchener is busy organising a second army, but no news arrives of the first despatched to Europe- A British cruiser sinks a German submarine by clever gunnery. The will-o'-the-wisp ships Goeben and Breslau, after many conflicting reports, are safe in the Dardanelles, and are said to have been bought by Turkey to replace the two Dreadnoughts taken by Britain. August 14.— Germany's bribe to Italy to side with her exposed as consisting of Savoy, Nice, Corsica, and Tunis. Britain and France ' declare war on Austria. British Admiralty ■urges traders to send their ships to sea except in the North Sea, where the Germans' have strewn mines in- • diseriminately. British and French ships search Atlantic for five German cruisers. Germany again asks Belgium' to allow troops to pass into France, and is refused. More fighting in Belgium is reported. Austria reported to be shooting Slavs, even members of Parliament. . Further stories of German brutality. Meagre news of a Russian victory over Austrians at Sokal. August 15. — Great German attack on Haelen and Diest repulsed. Turkey in a peculiar position through purchase of warships. France threatens war on Holland if German troops take refuge in Holland, and the Dutch take precautions. Further Russian successes. August 17. — Russian mobilisation reported complete to two and a-half millions strength ; Russia promises Poland to restore its original territorial integrity. Attack on Servian frontier by hugfc force of Austrians repulsed. France holds her own in Alsace. August 18. — Japan orders Germany out of Kiaochau ,by 23rd August, and promises not to seek territory. "Germany's commercial flag no longer afloat" and the sea clear for Biitish shipping. French having crossed into Aleace advance fast along Schirmek Valley. August 19.- -News received of the successful landing of British troops in France. Allies in Belgium ready for a, great battle. Austiians routed west of Belgrade and fleeing. Holland prepared to repulse invaders, i and Italy preparing for attack. Scat of Government removed from Brussels to Antwerp. August 20. — Liege forts still holding out. Fierce fighting along an extended front in Belgium. French, by a brilliant forced march, junction with Belgians. Germans burn villages as ' they leave them. Desultory fighting reported on the North Sea. Russians have further successes against Austria Montenegro invades Dalmsttia and obtains French help from Scutari. August 21. — Preliminaries of a great batllo in Belgium. Allies hold a great semi-circle from Diest, via Quatre Bras to Givet. Belgians forced to Fall back— a movement reported to have been foreseen by the allies — ajid Germans take Diest and Tirlemont. Great battle reported in progress between Diest and Namur. In Alsace the French retalce Ville and Mulhausen. Further Russian successes ; and the Servians report ousting Austrians from Shabatz and Fogmtza. Two battered German cruisers towed into Hongkonp. August 22.— lifdeaela is abandoned to (he Germans to prevent its bombaulniftit (Jemmim dem.in'"! h w«r contiibutum of £8,000,000. Alliee y.ic-

torious at Tirlemont. Russians capture Lyck after three days' fighting ; Warsaw district declared clear of Germans ; Btissians invaded Austria a week ago. Naval raid by British, and French ships creates panic at Trieste. August 24. — Japan declares war against Germany. There is strong reason to believe that Italy will join the Entente. Russians defeat three German army corps at Gumbinnen. Servians defeat 110,000 Austrians on the River Drina, and capture Corsada. Ghent is occupied by the Germans, and Antwerp prepares for a siege. French sink the Austrian battleship Zrinyi in the Adriatic. August 25. — First reports of a great battle between Mons and the frontier of Luxembouig. British forces occupy the left wing, and hold their ground well on Sunday, fighting all day. Charleroi taken by the Germans and recaptured after sanguinary engagement. Namur reported to have fallen. Germans evacuate the Longwy and Briey region. The The Russians continue to crush the German defenders in the frontier towns. The Austrian authorities announce that the army is needed to fight Russia, and Serviaji operations will be ir the nature of a punitive expedition. Japan opens bombardment of KiaO-chau. August 26. — The great battle continues, the losses on both sides being very heavy. The Allies' duty is defined as holding the enemy till the Russians come. Raids from Antwerp by Belgians help to clear out the Germans. Germans report defeating the French at Neufchateau and also a force of British cavalry. Austria's sole warship in the Pacific, previously ordered to disarm, now ordered to joint the German ships at Kiaochau. August 27. — The Allies take up a modified posiion along the frontier, foling upon the changes wrought by the continued fighting. Namur is occupied by the Germans, but some of the forts still hold out. Lord Kitchener makes a great speech. Says he needs all available recruits. French abandon Alsace, but renew fighting in Lorraine. An enormous Russian army reported to be advancing towards Germany. German Togoland capitulates unconditionally. The Italian Premier denies that the army is mobilising and that Italy is hostile to Austria. Germany calls out all boys from 16 to 19 for military training. August 28.— A pause in the, main operations on the French frontier, but another big battle / raging between Douai and Maubeuge. Reports that the Germans have been defeated at Malines by the Belgians, and at Wolevre, near Verdun. The Russians occupy Tilsit, and now hold. Nordeburg. Sensburg, Bischofsburg, Kopilstza, and Tarnapol. Italy reported to be prepared for a "popular war."